Azerbaijan State Scholarship 2026
Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Scholarship Overview — What Is the Azerbaijan State Scholarship?

The Azerbaijan State Scholarship 2026, officially known as the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant Program, is the Republic of Azerbaijan's flagship fully funded government scholarship for international students. Established by the decree of President Ilham Aliyev on July 8, 2023 — and building on predecessor programmes approved in 2017 and 2018 — the grant is designed to strengthen Azerbaijan's global educational ties and foster long-term diplomatic and cultural relationships with partner nations.

Named in honour of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of Azerbaijan who laid the foundations of the modern Azerbaijani state, the scholarship reflects the country's strategic vision: to educate the next generation of international leaders and build lasting academic partnerships across the Muslim world, the Global South, and countries with shared cultural and historical ties with Azerbaijan.

Unlike most European government scholarships, the Azerbaijan Government Scholarship for international students is notably inclusive in scope: it covers everything from Preparatory language courses and Bachelor's programmes right through to PhD and Medical Residency. Students can study across a wide range of disciplines — from engineering, medicine, and computer science to economics, law, and social sciences — at Azerbaijan's leading public universities in Baku and beyond.

A critical feature that many international applicants miss: you cannot apply directly to the SIACAS portal without a government nomination from your home country. The application is a two-stage process — your own Ministry of Education or Foreign Affairs (or the Azerbaijani Embassy in your country) must formally nominate you first, and only then can you proceed online. Understanding this two-stage structure is the most important strategic insight for any international student seeking the Azerbaijan scholarship in 2026.

Each year, approximately 100 international students are awarded this fully funded scholarship — a number that has grown under the 2023 presidential decree from the earlier 40-per-year quota. With applications coming from over 150 eligible countries, the scholarship is highly competitive, making early preparation and a strong academic record essential.

Exact Financial Package — What Does the Azerbaijan Government Scholarship Cover?

The Azerbaijan State Scholarship is fully funded. Here is every benefit verified from the official Azerbaijani government sources and the SIACAS portal documentation:

Who Can Apply — Azerbaijan Scholarship Eligibility Requirements for International Students

1. Nationality — Which Countries Are Eligible?

The Azerbaijan Government Scholarship for international students is open to citizens of four groups of countries:

• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states — 57 countries including Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco, Senegal, and many more.
• Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states — 120 countries including India, Cuba, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and others.
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — Pacific and Caribbean nations including Fiji, Vanuatu, Maldives, Barbados, and more.
• Countries with shared cultural, ethnic, and historical ties with Azerbaijan — a supplementary category that broadens eligibility further, particularly for Central Asian and Turkic-heritage nations.

In total, more than 150 countries are eligible. Azerbaijani nationals and individuals whose Azerbaijani citizenship has been cancelled are explicitly not eligible. For multiple-nationality holders, only one nationality may be used — the one by which you are officially nominated by your home country's government authority.

2. Age Limits

Age limits for the Azerbaijan scholarship are assessed against a fixed cut-off date (September 15 of the academic year intake):

• Undergraduate / General Medicine: Must be under 35 years old as of September 15, 2026.
• Master's / Medical Residency: Must be under 40 years old as of September 15, 2026.
• PhD / Doctoral: Must be under 45 years old as of September 15, 2026.

3. Academic Requirements

• For Bachelor's / Preparatory: A completed secondary education (high school diploma or equivalent). Minimum 70% or equivalent academic average required.
• For Master's / Medical Residency: A completed and recognised Bachelor's degree (or MBBS for residency) in a relevant field. Minimum 70% or equivalent.
• For PhD / Doctorate: A completed Master's degree in a relevant discipline. Strong research background and, ideally, prior contact with a potential Azerbaijani supervisor recommended.
• Academic distinction: Local and international academic awards, honours, publications, or Dean's List certifications significantly strengthen your nomination dossier.

4. Language Requirements

Language requirements depend on the medium of instruction of your chosen programme. Azerbaijan's major universities offer programmes in four languages:

• English-taught programmes: IELTS ≥5.0 (undergraduate) or IELTS ≥5.5 (postgraduate); TOEFL iBT ≥40 (undergraduate) or ≥50 (postgraduate).
• Azerbaijani, Russian, or Turkish-taught programmes: Relevant language proficiency certificate, or willingness to attend the funded preparatory language course prior to your main degree.
• Documents in languages other than Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian must be accompanied by a notarised English translation.

5. Health Requirement

All applicants must be in good physical health and submit a medical certificate from a state or private hospital confirming negative test results for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. This is a standard requirement for all study-abroad government scholarships in the region and is non-negotiable.

6. Who Is NOT Eligible for the Azerbaijan State Scholarship?

• Azerbaijani nationals, or individuals whose Azerbaijani citizenship has been cancelled
• Citizens of countries not on the official OIC / NAM / SIDS eligible countries list
• Students who have previously received the Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant (cannot re-apply after completing an award)
• Applicants who fail to secure an official nomination from their home country government by the Stage 1 deadline
• Students applying for online or distance-learning programmes — studies must be conducted in-person in Azerbaijan

Eligible Fields of Study & Participating Universities

The Azerbaijan Government Scholarship covers a broad range of academic disciplines at Azerbaijan's leading public universities. Unlike the French Eiffel Scholarship's seven fixed priority fields, the Azerbaijan scholarship is considerably more open — any field available at a participating institution may be studied. Popular fields for international students include:

Check Your Eligibility & Track Your Azerbaijan Scholarship Documents

Use the interactive tools below to instantly check if you qualify for the Azerbaijan State Scholarship 2026, build your document checklist, and explore alternative scholarship options — all in one place.

How to Apply for the Azerbaijan State Scholarship — Step-by-Step Guide for International Students

The Azerbaijan Government Scholarship application process is a mandatory two-stage system. You cannot skip Stage 1. No matter how strong your academic record or motivation letter, if you do not receive an official government nomination from your home country first, your application cannot proceed to the SIACAS portal. Understanding and navigating this two-stage process is the single most decisive factor in your Azerbaijan scholarship application.

1. Confirm your country's eligibility and identify your nominating authority (January–February)
   Before preparing any documents, confirm that your country is on the official list of OIC, NAM, or eligible partner countries. Then identify the specific government body in your country responsible for nominating candidates — this is typically the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the Azerbaijani Embassy in your country. Contact them early — February at the latest — as some countries have internal pre-selection processes with deadlines earlier than April 15.
2. Prepare your Stage 1 nomination documents (February–March)
   Gather all required documents (see the Document Checklist tab above). Key Stage 1 documents include: completed nomination form (downloadable from the official Azerbaijan scholarship page or your local authority), certified educational certificates and transcripts, passport copy, medical certificate with HIV/Hepatitis results, CV, motivation letter, and language proficiency proof. All documents must be in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian — or accompanied by a notarised English translation.
3. Submit to your home country authority by April 15, 2026 (6:00 PM Baku time)
   Submit your complete dossier to your home country's government authority. This is Stage 1. The authority reviews nominations, selects candidates, and formally submits them to the Azerbaijani side through official diplomatic channels. The deadline of April 15, 2026 at 6:00 PM Baku time is absolute. Incomplete or late submissions are rejected without exception.
4. Await official nomination confirmation (April–May)
   Your home country government authority will notify you if you have been officially nominated and your documents forwarded to the Azerbaijani side. If nominated, you receive instructions to proceed to Stage 2 via the SIACAS portal. If not nominated, your application ends here for the current cycle — consider strengthening your profile and reapplying next year.
5. Register on the SIACAS portal (May 18 – June 1, 2026)
   Only officially nominated candidates can proceed. Log in to the SIACAS portal at portal.edu.az during the open window (May 18 – June 1, 2026). Create your account, select the "Heydar Aliyev – International Education Grant" as your admission channel, and complete your online application profile.
6. Select up to 3 programmes at different universities (Stage 2 on SIACAS)
   Within the SIACAS portal, you can choose up to three specialties (programmes) at three different Azerbaijani universities. This is a crucial strategic decision — list programmes in order of preference. Research the participating universities and their programmes carefully before this step. You cannot change your selections after submission.
7. Upload all required documents in PDF format and submit (by June 1, 2026)
   Upload your complete document set on the SIACAS portal in PDF format before June 1, 2026 at 6:00 PM Baku time. This is the final and absolute Stage 2 deadline. For technical issues, contact siacas.support@tsii.edu.az with screenshots and a brief description — do this well before the deadline, not on the last day.
8. Selection and results (July 1 – August 1, 2026)
   The Azerbaijani selection committee reviews all nominated and submitted applications. Results are communicated to successful candidates between July 1 and August 1, 2026 via the SIACAS portal and/or email. You will be notified of your selected university and programme.
9. Student visa application (July–August)
   Upon receiving your acceptance letter from the Azerbaijani university, apply for a student visa (Type D) at the nearest Azerbaijani Embassy or Consulate in your country. The visa fee and residence permit costs are covered by the scholarship. Allow 3–6 weeks for processing. Your scholarship notification letter will be required as part of the visa application.
10. Arrival and enrollment in Azerbaijan (September)
    Travel to Azerbaijan for the start of the academic year in September. Your university's International Office will assist with registration, accommodation placement, obtaining your residence permit, opening a local bank account, and orientation. Your monthly stipend payments begin upon enrolment confirmation.

Tips for a Successful Azerbaijan Scholarship Application

• Contact your Ministry of Education or Foreign Affairs by January or February — not April. Many Ministries have internal pre-selection processes with their own deadlines before April 15. Some conduct interviews. Some require applications to be submitted weeks in advance. By the time you contact them in March, spots may already be filled.
• If your Ministry seems unresponsive, contact the nearest Azerbaijani Embassy directly. The Azerbaijani diplomatic mission in your country can advise on the nomination process and may even help facilitate your nomination in some countries. The full list of Azerbaijani diplomatic missions is available on the official mfa.gov.az website.
• Your motivation letter must be tailored to Azerbaijan specifically. Do not submit a generic statement. Explain why you want to study in Azerbaijan — its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, its growing economy, its universities' strengths in energy engineering or medicine, or its cultural and historical significance. Generic letters fail at the nomination stage.
• Choose your 3 SIACAS programmes strategically. Apply your first choice to the most competitive programme you genuinely want. But ensure your second and third choices are realistic fallbacks at institutions with good track records of accepting international scholarship students. Baku State University and Azerbaijan Technical University are strong anchor choices for most disciplines.
• A GPA above 80% makes a significant difference. While the official minimum is 70%, nominated candidates with 80%+ GPA consistently have higher selection rates at the national committee level. Include any documentation of class ranking, prizes, or academic distinctions in your dossier.
• Get your medical certificate early. HIV and Hepatitis B/C tests are required and must come from a recognised hospital. In some countries, processing time for certified medical certificates can take 2–4 weeks. Don't leave this to the last minute — an incomplete medical file is the #1 reason documents are rejected at Stage 1.
• All documents must be notarised and translated. Documents in languages other than Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian require a notarised translation into English. Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts must bear an official seal or apostille from the issuing institution. Uncertified copies are rejected.
• Apply to backup scholarships in parallel. The Türkiye Bursları Scholarship (Turkey), Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary), and MAECI Italian Government Scholarship are all strong parallel options for international students from OIC and NAM countries.

After Receiving the Azerbaijan State Scholarship — What Happens Next?

Receiving your acceptance letter from the selection committee is a major achievement. Here is what international scholarship students need to do next:

• Confirm your acceptance promptly. Respond to the official offer through the SIACAS portal or by email within the stated window. Failure to confirm within the deadline may forfeit your award to a waitlisted candidate.
• Student visa: Apply for a Type D long-stay student visa at the Azerbaijani Embassy nearest to you. Bring your acceptance letter, scholarship award notification, valid passport, medical certificate, and passport photos. The visa fee is reimbursed by the scholarship — keep all receipts.
• Temporary residence permit: Upon arrival in Azerbaijan, register with the State Migration Service within 15 days. Your university's International Students Office will typically guide this process. Your temporary residence permit is renewed each academic year for the duration of your award.
• Bank account: Open a local bank account in Azerbaijan to receive your monthly stipend. ABB (Azerbaijan Business Bank) and Kapital Bank are commonly used by international students and have English-language support. Your university's admin office can advise on the most practical option.
• Accommodation: Some universities offer on-campus dormitories for international scholarship students. If no campus housing is available, your university's international office will assist you in finding private accommodation in Baku. The monthly stipend of 800 AZN is designed to cover both housing and living costs, though Baku's rental market varies significantly by district.
• Language preparation: If your programme is in Azerbaijani, Russian, or Turkish and you have not yet attained proficiency, your funded preparatory language course begins before the main academic year. Attend all sessions — missing preparatory course requirements can affect your continued enrollment status.
• Academic performance: Maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout your degree. The scholarship is conditional on passing each academic year. Failing a year results in suspension of the scholarship stipend. Contact your academic advisor and international office immediately if you are at risk of academic difficulty.
• Return flights: At the end of each academic year (typically June/July), your round-trip return flight home is arranged through the scholarship. Coordinate the booking with your university's international office well in advance.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Azerbaijan Government Scholarship